Genesis 31:53

53 Let the God of Abraham, who is the God of Nahor and the God of their fathers, punish either of us if we break this agreement." So Jacob made a promise in the name of the God whom his father Isaac worshiped.

Genesis 31:53 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 31:53

The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their
father, judge between us
And the father of these was Terah, so that the god of them was not the true God, and is not meant, at least not as truly worshipped; but the god or gods of Terah, Nahor and Abraham worshipped while idolaters, and Laban still continued to do, though perhaps not in so gross a manner as some did: and Jacob swore by the fear of his father Isaac;
that is, by the true God his father Isaac feared, served, and worshipped: or "but Jacob" {r} which seems plainly to suggest, that the God whom Laban called upon to be a judge between them, should they break covenant, and swore by, and he whom Jacob swore by, were different; each swore by their own deities.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 (ebvyw) "sed juravit", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Genesis 31:53 In-Context

51 Here is the pile of rocks that I have put between us and here is the rock I set up on end.
52 This pile of rocks and this rock set on end will remind us of our agreement. I will never go past this pile to hurt you, and you must never come to my side of them to hurt me.
53 Let the God of Abraham, who is the God of Nahor and the God of their fathers, punish either of us if we break this agreement." So Jacob made a promise in the name of the God whom his father Isaac worshiped.
54 Then Jacob killed an animal and offered it as a sacrifice on the mountain, and he invited his relatives to share in the meal. After they finished eating, they spent the night on the mountain.
55 Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them, and then he left to return home.
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.